Foodie and the Beast

Hosted by David Nellis.

On today’s show:

·        Lou Bernard heads up the cocktail program at Mita, a plant-based Latin American restaurant, and runs Noches del Caribe, a pop-up celebrating Afro-Latin culture;                                                                                                                                  

·        Rosemary Suggs-Evans is director of D.C’s Department of Small and Local Business Development. She spends her days advocating for the small business community looking to support, grow, and retain District-based businesses while promoting economic development in the city's commercial corridors. We peek behind the curtain to learn about her efforts with particular focus on D.C’s ever more bountiful restaurant start-up community;                                                                                                                     

·        Juan Morales is the founder of Despacio Mezcal - a drink that encapsulates the land, the people and the slow, deliberate, time-honored methods of the Mexican state of Oaxaca;                                                                                                     

·        John Issa and Johan Cortes are co-owners of the Invic2s Hospitality Group, formed just this past June as the umbrella organization overseeing the operations of Public Bar Live, the Sauf Haus Bier Hall and Garten, Das Pretzel Haus and STFU. John and Johan are in with lots of details about their plans from all the properties – especially for Oktoberfest!                                                                                                                                                                                                         

·        Monica Saigal (Bhide) is an old friend of ours and the show and… a real talent. She’s an award-winning author, accomplished literary coach  and an educator with a new children’s book coming out next month, “Papa’s Butter Chicken,” featuring a foreword by renowned Chef José Andres focused on the importance of cooking and sharing meals with people around us. And she’s a tremendous font of ideas – one of them is upcoming, It’s the DMV Butter Chicken Festival. Monica is in to tell us all about it.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

·         Sam Nellis of Silver Lyan, a man who needs no introduction from a cocktail bar that needs no introduction;      

·        Lilani Dunn of the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA), a nonprofit organization that represents the 8,000 fishermen who harvest the world's largest wild sockeye salmon run;                                                                                                                                                           

·        Yvette Williams and Chef Troy Williams, respectively, the director and culinary coordinator of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), a workforce development nonprofit that provides underserved teens with a pathway to success;                                                                                                                                                          

·        Jill Erber of Cheesetique, Del Ray’s favorite cheese shop and neighborhood restaurant, which turns 20 next month. The theme is “Aged to Perfection,” and there is a whole year of festivities planned that you don’t want to miss;

·        Rick Colling, the brand leader of Homewood Suites by Hilton, an upscale, award-winning all-suite extended-stay hotel.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

·        Janon Costley, one of the founders of Shinju Whisky, is with us. Shinju means "pearl" in Japanese and symbolizes something precious and rare, which this, the first Black-founded and -led Japanese whisky company surely is;                                                                                                               

·        Apapacho is the new taqueria at Union Market’s La Cosecha. It’s the brainchild of the husband-and-wife team of Chef Alam Mendez and Pastry Chef Elisa Reyna, who offer their take on a vibrant and authentic taste of Mexican street food;                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

·        Anna Claire Walker is the director of marketing and storytelling for District Bridges, an ecosystem development nonprofit that works in Wards 1, 2 and 3 to build bridges between community engagement and economic development opportunities so individuals, businesses, and organizations can thrive together;                                                                                                                                                                                    

·        Dean Mosones and Mark Minicucci are owners of Bar Japonais, an izakaya concept that opened this summer on 14th Street with a blend of Japanese fare and French cocktails.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

·        Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington;

·        Jinson Chan, co-owner of the Sojourn Fermentory, opening Aug. 17 in Suffolk, Virginia. The Sojourn Fermentory staff is passionate about two things: beer and relationships. Its mission is to create a place where diverse individuals and families can come together in community to share their stories while enjoying high-quality beer and cider;                                                                                                           

·        Amy Holmwood is the  founder and CEO of the Holistic Spirits Co. It is the world’s first plant-based and -powered holistic spirits company. Its products are made with zero artificial flavors, colors, or GMOs;                                                                                                                                                                                                              

·        Reid Shilling is the executive chef and owner of the Shilling Canning Company on the Potomac in Southeast Washington, a place to enjoy a farm-to-table taste of the Chesapeake region. He and his wife, Sarah Quinteros, have also opened Ampersandwich, a casual sandwich summer pop-up with great sides and combos. 

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

·        Ryan Cooper, bar director at the spectacular Cucina Morini;                                                                                                                        

·        Julie Verratti, founder and chief brand officer at the Denizens Brewing Company;                                                                                                                                                                      

·        Paolo Dungca, chef/owner of Hiraya, a celebration of the beauty, history and tasty flavors of the Philippines;                                                                                                                             

·        Chef Nadia Ruiz. the culinary arts training program director at D.C.’s Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, which provides tuition-free education, computer skills, culinary arts career training and support for adults, especially those in Washington’s immigrant community. The mission is to provide a pathway to success for new arrivals who otherwise may have a hard time finding work.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

§ Jack Zarecky is the beverage manager and sommelier at St. Anselm, the American-inspired tavern that’s one of several Stephen Starr restaurants in D.C. The beverage program there is well-loved, and Jack’s in with tastes and talk that help to explain why;

§ Cate Thurston is co-curator of “I’ll Have What She’s Having,” an hommage to the Jewish deli. It’s at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles through Sept. 18, and a localized version is now on view at the Capital Jewish Museum through Aug. 20;                                                                                                                 

§ Angel Thompson-Cephas and Teneisha Bell-Thompson are the mother and daughter due that created Bell’s Reines, the first D.C.-based, woman-owned and Black-owned gourmet cookie company that includes gluten-free and vegan options;                                                                                                       

§ Kathy Voss (owner) Joel Sanchez (head chef) from Little Miner Taco are in with lotsa news about expansion there – a new store in Rockville. And a new menu item. And more. Stay with us for that! 

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

§ The team from Residents Café and Bar, including Beverage Director Jon Arroyo, Co-Founder Farid Azouri and Bar Manage Josue Larin;                                                                         

§ Joe Ragonese, co-founder and managing partner of D.C.’s Balos Estiatorio, serving traditional Greek cuisine. The path Joe followed to Balos is filled with success, so we’ve invited him in to give us the 411 on what we expect to be the same with Balos;                                                                                                                                                                            

§ Eric Heidenberger is a partner with the DC Restaurant Group – places you know and love, like the Bottom Line, Madhatter, Shaw's Tavern, the 801 Restaurant and Bar, Prost, Heidaway and more -- and with more on the way! He’s in to give us the 411 on the restaurant group’s next moves;                                                                                                                                                         

§ Matthew Lego is the executive chef at Restaurant Leo in Annapolis. Within three months of opening, Leo received a glowing review in the Washington Post from Tom Sietsema, was listed as his top six favorite places to eat, and then landed in The Post’s fall dining guide. Co-Owner Hilarey Leonard joins Chef Matt to give us the story behind that impressive jumpstart.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

§ Apero is the delicious little Georgetown champagne and caviar bar -- and a restaurant that’s the brainchild of Advanced Sommelier Elli Benchimol. We love it there. It’s now added La Bohème, an intimate tasting room upstairs. Elli is in with her exec chef, Jenn Castaneda-Jones, formerly of the celebrated and dearly departed Marcel’s. We definitely should mention that the RAMMYS are coming up at the end of July -- and Jenn is a 2024 finalist for the Rising Culinary Star of the Year award, and Apéro is a finalist for Wine Program of the Year. Not too shabby;

§ Silvan Kraemer and David Fritsche owned Stable DC, a traditional Swiss restaurant in the H Street Corridor. Stable closed this spring, and Silvan and David are ready to unveil their new concept, Steak Frites DC. David joins us to treat us to the new restaurant’s signature item, which is… steak frites, Geneva-style!

§ If you want to know anything about sake, Reiko Hirai is your go-to. She founded and runs the DC Sake Co. It’s way more than a beverage company. It’s an experience! Reiko us tastes  of sake and she’s here to announce a very cool  Japanese spirits tasting soiree to be held July 20;

§ David Wizenberg, the chief operation officer at Hospitality Consulting Services, is now working on optimizing the customer’s experience through the renovation and reorientation at Executive Chef Chris Clime’s PassionFish in Reston. Davis is also here to tell us about his new food truck concept;

§ L. Paige Newman is the curator at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond. The museum is hosting a fascinating interactive exhibit on the life of Julia Child. “A Recipe for Life” celebrates – and makes you a part of - Julia’s lasting impact on American cuisine and food culture.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

·        Russ Smith and Cecy Linzey, founders of the Mr. & Mrs. Bourbon Co., are in. Theirs is one of only a few Black- and female-owned bourbon companies in the U.S., and they have quite a story to tell -- and a few bourbons to pour;                                                                                                                                                                                       

·        Our old buddy, Chef Matt Adler, late of Caruso’s and now the executive chef at D.C.’s Cucina Morini, serving up Southern Italian and Sicilian delights;                                                                                                                 

·        Aynae Simmons and Leticia Engel-Cobian with Visit Montgomery are with us. You will definitely want to visit the Tastemakers Trail in Montgomery County. It features two dozen craft beverage producers, including wineries, breweries, cideries -- and a meadery;                                                                                                                    

·        Paul Taylor and Sherra Kurtz are co-owners of Your Only Friend, an out-of-the-ordinary cocktail and sandwich concept in Shaw;

·        Originally from Berkeley, Leo and Oliver Kremer are the founders of the Dos Toros Taqueria chain. When they moved to the East Coast, they realized San Francisco Mission-style burritos were tough to find. Enter the first Dos Toros location in New York City’s Union Square in 2009. Cut to now: there are 15 Dos Toros spots in NYC, and (drum roll, please) two here in DC. The Kremer Brothers join us with all the details.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

·        We have a fun drink segment today. Gigi Arandid is in! She’s the founder of BINGE Bar, which offers a celebration of sobriety for those looking to have fun without the booze. You can enjoy elevated cocktails and a both vegan and a non-vegan Filipino- and Mediterranean-inspired menu;                                                                                                                                                                                                         

·        Tony Chittum, executive chef at the celebrated Iron Gate, now also back in charge of the kitchen at Vermillion in Alexandria, just in time for the grand relaunch of this beloved neighborhood spot – double the pleasure, double the workload!                                                                                                                

·        With 13 offices spanning the U.S., HGA is an architectural firm on steroids, with services that span the spectrum of what today’s environment-conscious buildings and their tenants demand. Ben Webne is an HGA principal. His focus is on designing for the hospitality world, and he joins us later to discuss the many disciplines – from sustainable design to lighting, engineering and, well, lots more that went into the development of The Heights food hall in Chevy Chase;                                                                                                                                                                         

·        Kathy Jentz is a journalist, editor and publisher of the award-winning Washington Gardener Magazine. She hosts the popular GardenDC Podcast, which was recently named best D.C. podcast, and she’s in to talk about her work and her plants and what she’s harvesting right now.;                                                                                                                                                                                          

·        Drew Darneille is the award-winning owner/pitmaster at Smokecraft Modern Barbecue. He’s in to chat about his artistry with ribs and the upcoming 32nd Annual Giant BBQ Battle, a highlight of the barbecue competition season.